Ramming apparatus for ordnance.



.Patented Sept. 9, i902.

A. T. nAw'soN @LI-J. HURNE. RAMMING APPARATUS FR HDNANCE.

m: mams PETERS co. PHoruLn'no.. wAsmmi'roN4 D. c.

'Patented sept. 9, |902.

A. T. DAWSON &. J. HRNE. RAMMING APPARATUS .FOR ORDNANCE.

(Application Bled Dec. 9, 1901.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

'Janv/e6* iw/'1w r1/1M j TH NOHRIS PETERS CCL. PHOTO-LITHO, WASH-NOYON. D. C.

No. 708,870. Patented sept. 9, |902.

Afr. DAwsoN 0 J. HoRNE. RAMMING APPARATUS FR RDNVANCE.

Applicaton lecl Dec. 9, 1901.)

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No. 708,070. f Patented s'ept. 0, |902.

A. T. nAwsoN` & J. Home. y BAMMING APPARATUS FR` RDNANC.

(Application il'ed Dec. 9, 1901.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

TH: ohms PETERS co. Pnorcxuwov, wAsNINsYoN, u. c.

VPatented sept. 0, |002. A0. T. 0Aws0N 0 .1. H0005.

RAMMIN'G APPARATUS FOR UBDNANCE.

LAppl-cation led Dec: 9, 1901.) {No Model.) 9 Shet's-Sheet -5,

Bry sja-17:66' M1266 Patented Sept. 9, |902.

A. T. DAWSON & J. HRNE. BAMMING APPARATUS FOR ORDINANCE.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1901.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

algal/dara 07'/ gw L TH: cams PETERS cu.. Pnorouwo., w^sHxNoToN. D. c.

Patented Sept. 9, |902;

A. T. DAWSON & J. HURNE.

HAMMING APPARATUS FR URDNANCE.

{Application filed Dec. 9, 1901.)

a shts-sheet 7;

(No Model.)

Tn: Nonms FEfERs co. Pnu'muwo.. wAsHmGToN. u. c.

Patented Sept. .9, |902.

A. T. nAwsoN & .1. HURNE. RAMMING APPARATUS FOR DRDNANCE.

(Application filed Dec. 9. 1901.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 8,

den Model.)

Patented Sept. l9, |902.

A. T. DAWSON J. HURNE.

RAMMING APPARATUS FOR ORDNANCE.

Application filed Dec. 9, 1901.)

9 shevets-sheete.

Wu Model.)

mams PErEHs co4. PHm'oLnTnn.. WASH UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAVSON, OF LONDON, AND JAMES HORNE, OF BARROW- IN-FURNESS, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS SONS do MAXIM, LIM- ITED, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

RAlVlIVIlNG APPARATUS FOR ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,870, dated September 9, 1902.

Application filed December 9. 1901. Serial No. 85,295. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that we,ARTHUR TREvoR DAW- SON, late lieutenant of Royal Navy, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London, and JAMES HORNE, engineer, of Vickers Sons & Maxim, Limited, Naval Construction Vorks, Barrow-in-Furness, in the county of Lancaster, England, subjects of the King of Great Britain, have Io invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Ramming Apparatus for Ordnance, of Which lthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to ramming apparatus of the iieXible or chain type, and has for its chief objectto so construct and arrange said apparatus that the rammel' will automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, so as to occupy 2o the proper loading position at any usual angle of elevation of the gun.

According to our invention we mount the ram mer and the sprocket-Wheel for actuating it in a sliding piece or slipper, which is adapted to move up and down in guides formed on a suitable standard or support which is independent of the gun, motion being imparted to said sprocket-Wheel from a suitable motor and gearing'. The said sliding 3o piece or slipper receives its movement from the gun-slide or some other part that participates 'in the movement of elevation and depression of the gun. For this purpose we prefer to connect said slipper to one end of a rope or chain which passes around suitablyarranged pulleys, the other end of the rope or chain being connected to the turn-table or some part of the gun-mounting that does not participate in the movement of elevation of 4o the gun. One of the said pulleys is carried by the gun-slide and another of said pulleys is located on the turn-table, the rope or chain passing in la bight around these two pulleys, so that during the movements ot' the gun in its elevation or depression the distance between these two pulleys increases or diminishes, and thus actuates the rope or chain, whereby the said slipper is shifted and the ramuier moved up or down in its standard to a greater or less extent in accordance with the amplitude of the changes in the elevation of the gun. The aforesaid standard or support is adapted to be readily shifted away from its operative position behind the gunbreech when it becomes necessary or desirable to effect the ramming by hand-as, for instance, when the gun is required to beshiftedbeyond the loading-range of the rainmerand in such case We provide what We term a compensating device for avoiding the ne- 6o cessity of disconnecting the rope or chain.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eitect, We Will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying draW- ings, in Which- Figure l is a sectional elevation of a portion of a gun and its mounting with our improved ramming apparatus applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, Fig. 3 a plan, and 7o Fig. 4 a sectional end elevation, of the ramming apparatus drawn on a larger scale. Fig.

5 is a detail cross-section on the line l l of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan of the ramming apparatus shown in Fig. l with a portion broken away to show the drum upon`which the rammer is Wound. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the drum, taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an elevation of a portion of a gun and its mounting with a modi- 8o fled forin of the ramming apparatus. Fig. 9

is a side elevation, and Fig. l0 a plan, of this form of the ramming apparatus drawn on a larger scale. Fig. ll is a sectional elevation of a portion of a gun and its mounting provided With ramming apparatus of the kind illustrated in Figs. l to 7 and illustrating the aforesaid compensating arrangement applied thereto. Fig. l2 is a plan of this compensating arrangement, and Fig. 13 is a vertical sec- 9o tion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a detail view drawn on a larger scale.

In all the figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.

A is the gun, B its trunnions, C the rotating turn-table, carrying the mounting C.

D is the gun-slide.

v E is the rammer-chain, and E is the ram# mer-head.

F is the slipper, and G the standard or suproo port, within which said slipper is capable of moving up and down.

y'. The casing of the said drum is provided with a straight portion j, constituting the rammer-guide, through which the rammerchain is directed in a straight course coincident with the bore of the gun. The drum J is furnished with a spiral groove and is adapted to slide laterally on and revolve on its shaftj during the windingand unwinding of the rammer-chain on and off said drum, so that the portion of the drum on or from which the chain is passing will always lie truly opposite the guidej. The said rammer-guide is connected with the aforesaid slipper F, so that the latter and the guide, as well as .the drum and drum-casing, can all move together. The said slipper is provided with bearingsjg, Fig. 3, for a transverse shaftf, which is furnished with a sprocket-wheel f', that gears with thelinks of the ramtner-chain and serves to actuate said chain when the shaftf is revolved by its motor. The said shaft is provided with a beveled pinion f2, which gears with another beveled pinion f3, carried rotatably by the said slipper F and adapted to slide with said slipper on a vertical shaft f4. This shaft is provided with a groove orgrooves engaging With a feather or feathers in the boss of the said beveled pinion, so that the latter can revolve with the said shaft, as well as move vertically up and down thereon, as aforesaid. The connect-ion of the guidej' to the slipper F is a pivotal one, so as to permit of said guide turning about the axis of the shaftf, and thus keep the face ot' the ram` mer-head parallel with the breech of the gun at all positions the said ram mer-head assumes in the standard G, this being necessary in View of the fact that the movement of the slipper is rectilinear and that of the breech of the gun curvilinear. For this purpose the said drum-casing J is furnished with a projection or rollerjg, that works in an inclined slot g in the said standard, the inclination of this slot being such as to cause the drum and rammer-head to turn to the required extent about the axis of the shaft f as the said drum and rammer rise and fall in the standard. At the lower end of the said shaft f4 is a three-cylinder hydraulic motor f5, which is connected by suitable piping with a vertical chamber f6, which receives the liquid u nder pressure through a supply-pipe f7. The said standard G is adapted to swivel around the said vertical chamberf in a horizontal plane when it is desired to move said standard away from its ramming position, the said standard being for this purpose furnished with rollers g g, adapted to run on a segmental roller-path g'. This roller-path is preferably flanged to permit of a lip g2 on the lower part of the standard G to engage with the under side of said flange for the purpose of assisting in firmly supporting the standard. ln order to secure the standardin proper position behind the breech of the gun, said standard is provided with a bolt g3, whichis adapted to enter a suitable recess in the roller-path by the action of a spring g4, surrounding the bolt. A handle g5 is connected with the said bolt by a rod gG for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn from the aforesaid recess when the standard is to be removed from its ramming position. The aforesaid slipper F is provided with recesses that engage with Vertical guides Q7 Q7 on the said standard. The shaftjis provided with a loose sprocket-wheel jy, geared by means of a chain with a sprocket-wheelf on the shaft f, Figs. 6 and 7, so that the drum J receives a positive movement from the shaft fduring the winding and unwinding of the rammer-chain. This sprocket-wheelj is provided with lateral lingers j* j, which enter guide-slots in the boss of said drum J', whereby said drum is revolved by the sprocketwheel and permitted to slide on the shaftj, as aforesaid. (See Fig. 7.) lf desired, the said sprocket-Wheels jX fx may be dispensed with and a spring be provided on the shaftj, said spring being stretched or energized as the chain is unwou nd from the said drum during the ramming operation and reacting to wind up the chain as the rammer-head is withdrawn from the gun. The aforesaid rope or chain H, to one end of which the said slipper F is connected, passes, as already stated, over guide-pulleys I I2 l:3 l", the pulleys l' l2 turning in bearings or brackets secured to the roof of the armor-plated structure C2, inclosing the gun. From the pulley I2 the said rope passes downward to the pulley I3, which turns in bearings or brackets secured to the rotating turn-table C. The said rope then passes upward to the pulley I4, connected to the gun-slide C', and thence said rope passes downward to the fixed point H'/2 on the turntable C. As the gun turns about its trunnions in changing its angle of elevation the said pulley l advances toward or recedes from the said pulley 13, thereby actuating the rope H and raising or lowering the slipper F in its standard G. The position of the pulley Il is approximately midway between the axis of the gun trunnions and the rammerhead. Consequently it is necessary for the said slipper and rammel' to move through an angle of approximately twice that of the angular movement of the axis of the said pulley lA1 in order for the said rammer-head to maintain its position of alinement with the gun-breech during the changes in the angle of elevation of the gun. By reason of this rope H passing in a bight around the said pulleys I3 l the slipper at thc end H' of the rope will bo ICO IIO

caused to move twice the distance the pulley I" moves relatively to the pulley I3, as is well understood. We would here state that although this position of the pulley I4 will be usually found most convenient, yet we may vary such position when necessary or desirable and arrange the rope H to take more than one bight or turn around the pulleys so long as we insure that the vertical adjustment of the slipper F when the angle of elevation of the gun is changed is such as to keep the rammer head in alinement with the gunbreech.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that if the angle of elevation of the gun be changed from lthat represented by the full lines in Fig. l to that represented by the dotted line fw the distance between the pulleys 13 l4 will be correspondingly increased, and as a consequence the end H of the rope will be raised a distance equal to twice the distance the pulleys I3 14 are separated. The slipper F, the ramrner-drum, and the rammer-head therefore assume the elevated position represented by the dotted lines at the upper part of the standard G. As the said slipper rises the projection jg on the casing j' of the rammer-chain ascends in the said groove gx, and by reason of this groove being inclined outwardly with respect to the vertical path of the slipper the guidej for the rammer-chain is angularly displaced about the shaft f of the slipper, so as to bring the rammer-head in alinement with the axis of the gun. The projectile is thrust into the breech-chamber by the rammer-head as the rammer-chain is unwound from its drum by the action of the sprocket-wheel f when revolved by the motive uid admitted to the motor f5. Y Thereturn movement of the rammer-head is effected by the revolution of the sprocket-wheel in the reverse direction.

In the modified construction of the ramming apparatus(illustrated by Figs. 8, 9, and 10) the chain of the ram mer instead of being wound arounda drum is arranged to hang down in a bight or bend. As in the previously-described arrangement, the slipper F works up and down guide-surfaces on the standard G. The guide j for the rammer is mounted pivotally on the shaftf, that carries the sprocket-wheel f', and is furnished with a projection or roller jg, which works in the inclined slot g in the said standard for keeping the face of the ram mer-head parallel with the breech end of the gun. The bevel-pinion f3, which gears with the bevel-pinion f2, is in this case mounted fast on the vertical shaft f4, which is adapted to move longitudinally with the slipper. On the rotating turn-table C is a bearing f8 for said shaft, said bearing carrying a toothed wheel fJ, through which the shaft passes, and said wheel f9 is connected thereto by a groove and feather, so that it will revolve with the shaft without impeding the longitudinal movement of the latter. The three-cylinder hydraulic motor j5 is suspended by suitable brackets from the said rotating turn-table and imparts motion to the said toothed wheel]L19 through a pinion fw, gearing with the latter. The movements of the slipper F are effected in an analogous manner to that already described with reference to Figs. l to 7. The said standard G instead ot' being adapted to turn about a vertical pivot, as in the previously-described arrangement, is adapted to turn about a horizontal pivot flo when the ramming apparatus is required to be moved from its ramming position, and for this purpose the lower portion of the standard is formed with curved cheeks G', between which the pivotal portion of said standard is adapted to move. The said standard is also furnished with shoulders G2, which slide against the curved edges of the cheeks G'. To lock the standard in its vertical or operative position, a detachable pin Gsis provided for engaging with lugs G4 G5, formed, respectively, on the pivotal portion of the standard and the curved cheeks.

Figs. 1l, l2, 13, and 14E illustrate the compensating arrangement for avoiding the necessity of disconnecting the rope H from the slipper when it is desired to change the angle of elevation of the gun beyond the loading range of the rammer or when the rammer is shifted from its ram ming position. Instead of attaching the pulley I' to the roof of the turret, as in Fig. l, we locate it on the standard G and lead the rope H horizontally to a pulley t', thence around a vertical pulley t'2 to a horizontal pulley i3, whence the said rope passes over other horizontal pulleys t4 115 to the pulleys I2 1314. This arrangement of the pulleys permits the portion of the rope connected with the pulley on the standard G to reeve off in a horizontal plane, so that the said standard can swivel about the vertical chamberf, as in Figs. 1 to 7, without lnaterially increasing the length of the rope, it being understood that the axis of the horizontal pulley t" is approximately in alinement with the axis of the said chamber f6. The pulley t4, which is located approximately midway between the other horizontal pulleys 5 5, has its pivot mounted in a block i6, which is adapted to slide in a horizontally-arranged guide i7. This block '126 is connected with a cord is, passing over a vertical pulley-t'9 and carrying a weight 10, which is adapted to slide up and down in a guide t, This Weight causes the said pulley 'i4 to be constantly pressed against the portion of the rope H lying between the two pulleys t3 5, said portion of the rope being normally at an angle or in a bend, as represented by the full lines in Fig. l2. iVhen it is necessary for the angle of elevation of the gun to exceed that of the range of the rammer, so that, for instance, the axis of the gun lies on the line cc, which is the position of the extreme loading angle of elevation, the length of rope between the pulley I4 on the gun-slide and the slipper will be lengthened owing to the pulleys I4 I3 ap- TOO IIO

proaching each other. The Weight @'10 by acting on the said portion of the rope between the two pulleys i3 i5 will then take up the slack portion of said rope. On the other hand, if the axis of the gun lies on the line y, which is the position of the extreme angle of depression of the gun, the length of rope between the pulley I4 on the gun-slide and the slipper Will be diminished and as a consequence will in tightening cause the slide G to move in a direction to raise the Weight. Vhen the gun is being shifted Within the limits of the ordinary angle of elevation and depression, the sliding pulley 4 and its slide i are limited in their movement by means of a spring-controlled stop 17, carried by the said guide, this stop being so arranged that it can be readily removed from its stopping position When it is desired to allow the slide 6 and its pulley to move beyond such position by the tightening of the rope H, as already explained.

What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In ram ming apparatus for guns, the combination with a flexible rammel', of a slipper mounted to slide in a support independent of the gun, of a pivotal guide on said slipper for the rammer-chain, of means for controlling the position of the guide relatively to its pivot during the sliding of said slipper, of gearing interposed between the gun and slipper for causing said slipper and guide to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression and of means for actuating the rammer for the purpose specified.

2. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination with a flexible rammer, of a slipper provided With a guide for the rammer and mounted to slide vertically in a support independent of the gun, of a guide for operating the rammer-guide, of a sprocket-Wheel on said slipper engaging with the links of the rammer-chain, of means for imparting rotary motion to said sprocket-Wheel, and of gearing connected With said slipper and actuated by the movement of the gun for causing said slipper to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression for the purpose specified.

3. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination with a flexible rammer, of a slipper provided with a guide for said ram mer mounted to slide vertically in a support independent of the gun, of a sprocket-Wheel mounted on a shaft carried by said slipper and engaging with the links of the rammer-chain, of means for actuating said sprocket-Wheel, of means for causing said slipper to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, and of means for keeping the said guide parallel with the axis of the gun as the slipper moves up or down in its support substantially as described.

4c. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination With a flexible rammer, of a slipper provided with a guide for said rammer and mounted to slide vertically in a support independent ofl the gun, of a sprocket-Wheel mounted on a shaft carried by said slipper and engaging with the links of the rammerchain, of means for actuating said sprocket- Wheel, of means for causing said slipper to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression and of a projection on the said guide engaging with an inclined groove in the said support substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination with a flexible rammer, of a slipper provided With a guide for the rammer and mounted to slide vertically in a support independent of the gun, of a sprocket-Wheel mounted on a shaft carried by said slipper and engaging with the links of the rammerchain, of a gear-wheel on said sprocket-Wheel shaft meshing With another gear-wheel adapted to revolve with and slide on a vertical shaft to which rotary motion isimparted from a suitable motor, of means for causing said slipper to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, and of means for keeping the said guide parallel to the axis of the gun as the said slipper moves vertically up or down in its support, substantially as described.

6. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination with a flexible rammel', of a slipper provided with a guide for the rammer and mounted to slide vertically in a support independent of the gun, of a sprocket-Wheel mounted on a shaft carried by said slipper and engaging with the links ot' the rammerchain, of a gear-Wheel on said sprocket-wheel shaft meshing with another gear-Wheel adapted to revolve with and slide on a vertical shaft to Which rotary motion is imparted from a suitable motor, of means for causing said slipper to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, of means for keeping the said guide parallel with the axis of the gun as the slipper moves vertically up or down in its support, and of a drum carried by said slipper for receiving the chain of the rammer substantially as described.

7. In ramming apparatus for guns, the coinbination with a flexible rammer, of a slipper provided with a guide for the rammer and mounted to slide vertically in a support independent of the gun, of a sprocket-Wheel mounted on a shaft carried by said slipper and engaging with the links of the chainrammer, of a gear-Wheel on the said sprocket- Wheel shaft meshing With another gear-Wheel adapted to revolve with and slide on a vertical shaft to Which rotary motion is imparted from g a suitable motor, of means for causing said slipper to automatically followthe movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, of means for keeping the said guide parallel With the axis of the gun as the slipper moves vertically up or down in its support, of a spiral drum inclosed in a casing connected With said guide, of a shaft on and with which said drum can slide and revolve and of means for actuating said shaft from the sprocket-Wheel shaft substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination with a rammer mounted in a standard or support independent of the gun, of means for causing the said rammer to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, of means for actuating the rammer, and of means for enabling said standard or support to be readily moved from its operative position for the purpose specied.

9. In ramming apparatus for guns, the combination with a rammer mounted on a standard or support independent of the gun, of means for causing the said rammer to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression, of means for actuating the rammer, and of a pivot about which said support can hinge substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. Inrammingapparatusforguns,thecombination with a rammer mounted in a standard or support independent of the gun; of means for causing the said rammer to automatically follow the movements of the gun in its elevation or depression; of means for actuating the rammel', of a pivot about which said support can hinge, and of means for locking said support in its operative position substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. Inrammingapparatusforguns,thecombination with a flexible rammel', of a slipper provided with a guide for the rammer and mounted to slide in a support independent of the gun, of a rope or chain having one end connected with the slipper and the other end with a part that does not participate in the movements of elevation or depression of the gun, of guide-pulleys for said rope or chain one of which is carried by a part that participates in the elevation or depression of the gun and around which a bight of the said rope or chain passes and of means for compensating for the slackness or the tightness in the said rope orchan for the purpose specitied.

12. In ramming apparatus forguns,the com'- bination With the flexible ram 1ner,therammer guide, the support independent of the gun, the sliding slipper, the rope or chain and its guide-pulleys; of a pulley adapted to slide in alixed guide, and of a Weight tending to press said pulley against a portion of the aforesaid rope or chain substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In rammingapparatusforguns,thecom bination with the ilexible ram mer,the ram merguide, the support independent of the gun, thevsliding slipper, the rope or chain and its guide-pulleys; of a pulley adapted to slide in a fixed guide, of a Weight tending to press said pulley against a portion of the aforesaid rope or chain and of a removable stop for limiting the extent of movement of said pulley in'its guide substantially as described.

14. Inrammingapparatusforguns,the`com bination With the flexible ra m mer, the ram mer-A guide, the support independent of the gun, the sliding slipper, the rope or chain and its guide-pulleys; of a vertical pivot for said support to swivel upon, and ofa horizontal pulley Working on an axle which is approximately coincident with the axis of the pivot of said support, so that the length of the rope or chain passing from said pulley to the slipper Will not materially vary in length When said support is turned about its pivot substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 28th day of November, 1901, as to ARTHUR 'lREvoR DAWsoN, and this 29th day of November, 1901, as to JAMES HORNE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. JAMES HORNE. Witnesses to signature of Arthur Trevor Dawson :l

C. A. SEARLE, HENRY KING. XVitnesses to signature of James Horne:

W. H. ATKINSON, H. G. JAMES. 

